The Executive Director of Africa Education Watch, Kofi Asare, has stated that Ghana’s new secondary school curriculum is flexible, providing learners with the opportunity to choose subjects that align with their strengths and interests.
Speaking on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, about the implementation of the curriculum, Kofi explained that, unlike the old system, learners are now allowed to select and change subjects of their choice.
He further elaborated that first-year students are assessed upon entry to identify their strengths and the subjects they are most suited to study.
“The curriculum includes a remedial component for Maths and English, where diagnostic tests will be conducted upon entry to assess students’ strengths. Based on the test results, interventions can then be targeted at those who need additional support,” Kofi said.
He added, “The curriculum also features a flexible subject selection process, allowing students to determine their academic pathway.”
Describing the advantages of the new curriculum, Kofi noted, “When you enter secondary school, you might not know what you want to study at university. Even I didn’t know at first. It is through your academic journey that you discover your interests. This curriculum provides the flexibility that, when you do make a decision about your future career, you still have the option to switch subjects or move between disciplines.”
Kofi Asare encouraged parents and other stakeholders to embrace the new curriculum, as it will help guide learners in their pursuit of future academic and career goals.
Recently, the Ministry of Education, in collaboration with the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA) and the Ghana Education Service (GES), launched the new secondary education curriculum for Senior High Schools (SHS), Senior High Technical Schools (SHTS), and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) schools across the country.
For the past two years, NaCCA, the agency responsible for developing curricula in Ghana, has worked alongside GES to plan and roll out the new curriculum. All second-cycle institutions are now using the new curriculum.
